Cult 51 Night Cream

Last time I covered Cult 51 Immediate Effects Serum and today I'm going to cover Cult 51 Night Cream. The night cream retails for £125 for 50ml, £30 more than the serum and a whopping £220 if you wanted to buy both, the price alone makes you think this cream must be fantastic for your skin. But is it?

Image taken from Cult Beauty

The Samples

As I mentioned in my previous post on the Immediate Effects Serum I had received sachet samples of both the serum and night cream, which I transferred into pots for ease of use.

This then provided me with enough night cream for a month and a half, and enough serum, used sparingly under the eyes, for several months.

The Claims

"Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by up to 52% in just 28 days, Cult 51 also protects against the development of new creases by preserving and bolstering your skin’s antioxidant cell pool – essential for warding against skin ageing free radical attack. 

Cult 51 contains a unique cocktail of potent active ingredients to encourage sluggish skin cells to biosynthesise and regenerate ATP, whilst increasing the oxygen exchange and micro-circulation necessary to optimise the wrinkle-reducing, age spot-diminishing, skin tone-brightening, blemish-battling (and countless other) beauty benefits.." 

The Ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Faex Extract, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernal Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Parfum, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Rosa Damascene (Rose) Flower Oil, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Trideceth-6, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabia Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylisothiazolinone, Pentapeptide-25.

The Immediate Concerns

At first glance it would appear that this cream contains a lot of really good ingredients for your skin such as;

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a type of Vit C thought to be a powerful antioxidant that can treat acne on the surface and even stimulate collagen,

Pomegranate extract which can possibly stimulate the production of collagen and prevent the breakdown of collagen fibres.

Peach kernel oil and walnut oil which is a source of vit B5 and helpful in dealing with acne,

Aloe juice and butchers broom extract which helps maintain the skin’s elasticity and texture,

Sodium hyaluronate, the latest buzz in skincare applied topically to the skin it can reach deep down into the dermis to combine with, maintain and attract water.

However it also contains a few which vary between giving very little benefit to the skin to those that could cause some damage to the long term health of your skin;

Sodium Polyacrylate which is a polymer, the absorbent material found in baby diapers, artificial decorative snow, and detergents,

Sodium Benzoate, which when mixed with Vit C creates a carcinogenic,

Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylchloroisothiazolinone a preservative which is also a powerful biocide, or "chemical substance capable of killing living organisms, usually in a selective way. (my all time favourite bad ingredient)

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate is, I think, supposed to be the big ingredient in this cream. A synthetic neuro peptide believed to muscles to relax preventing the formation of wrinkles, a bit like botox in a bottle. However the evidence to support the claims of being able to mimic the effects of Walgerin 1 (a peptide found in snake venom known for its muscle relaxing properties) is too subjective to be taken too seriously.

How Did It Fair?

I used this night cream alongside the immediate effects serum for nearly two months before deciding that it just didn't make any more difference to my skin than a cream a quarter of the price. And after researching the ingredients and finding biocide in it I'm not sure I'd want to continue using it even if it was working as claimed.

My Conclusion

£125 for biocide, a synthetic neuro peptide and possible carinogenics? Pass thanks, I know for a fact you can get creams packed with all the better ingredients that are in this minus the nasty ones, for a fraction of the cost.

Next time on the blog

Dr Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Day Cream, as good as it sounds?